Rotary printing machine



4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

F. C. MARQUARDT ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1930 Sept. 6, 1932.

Sept. 6, 1932. F. c. MARQUARDT l" ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE Filed May 16. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 gdm/ENT BY I ATTORNEY.' l

Sept 6 1932- F. c. MARQUARDT ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE 4 Sheet's-Sheet 5 Filed May 16 Sept. 6, 1932. |4 Q MARQUARDT 1,876,255

ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY.

Patented' Sepnf6-1i932 All NQTE C mena-abr, .or 'BnooxLi'iL Naw Yoan, AssIeNoa 'ro mx ourm, or Naw Yong, N. 1. a coaroaarron or nw You no'rAnY rammenta ncn'n'm Application iled Iay 16, v

The' invention relates to rotary printing machinesl and.- more particularly to a mechanism by means/of which paper sheets may be automatically fed to the members of the v printing couple-of an intaglio, en raved or undersurface rotary printing coup e.

In printing machines of thetype to which the invention relates, it is essential that the forward edge of the sheetv to be printed, be

13 fed between the plate cylinder and the impression cylinder or D-roll so as'to be frictionally engaged between said cylinders, the subse uent feeding movement of the paper resulting from this frictional engagement solely. The use of grippers upon the impression cylinder or D-roll is prohibited because, in the making vofthe imprint, it is essential that the paper remain in contact with the plate beyond the line of engagement of the plate with the blanket upon lthe impression cylinder or D-roll, and be stripped from the plate prior to the next inking operation upon the plate. The use of grippers upon the plate cylinder is likewise prohibited, since such mechanisms would interfere with the wiping and polishing of the plates. Furthermore, the use of gripper mechanisms would necessitate the locating of the plates during the makeready, in relation to such a mechanism which is also impossible because the locating of the plates, which plates may differ in size, must be determined by whatis known as a back cleat carried by the cylinder and operative along the rear edge of a plate.- This back cleat withstands the thrust u .on the plate, not only durin the making o an impression, but during tlie wiping and polishing operations which latter subject the cleat to even more severe stresses than those developed during the making of the impression.

Heretofore, it has been the practice in maf chines of the type to which the invention relates, to deliver the sheets to the printing couple by means of a reciprocatory feed shelf to which the sheets are delivered by .hand one at a time relation to side gauge markings upon the shelf and against front gauge stops, positioning the forward edge of the paper parallel with the line of meeting of the mem bers of the printing couple. This hand feed- 1,930. ySerial l'o. 462,955.

in of such presses is both an awkward and a di cult procedure, since it not onl requires great accuracy lin the positioning o the sheet upon the shelf, particularly `when doing multicolor work, but in the feeding of the sheet with a timed relation to the movements of the feed shelf. These conditions have heretofore resulted in a material reduction in the output capacity of such machines since failure to properl feed 'a sheet involved the necessity of either t e stoppage of the machine or if the machine cannot be stopped in time, the feedin of an improperly positioned sheet to avoid o setting u on the impression cylinder or D-roll blan et, resulting in wastage of the sheet and of labor previously spent thereon.

With the above conditions in mind, the invention contemplates a rotary rintin machine of the type above referre to, em odying therein automaticall acting means for delivering sheets to be prmted to a reciprocatory feed shelf in proper position in relation to front gauge stops, and side gauge mechanisms, which means operates substantially continuously and' at a speed to assure the de- 75 livery of a sheet to each plate upon the plate cylinder.

In a machine of the type to which the invention relates, it is essential, when a plurality of plates are used upon the plate cylinder, that these plates be spaced apart a distance suflicie'nt to permit the actuation of the wiping and the polishing mechanisms following the functioning of each of these mechanisms in relation to a plate. The construc- Bl tion of the feeding mechanism above referred to is such that 'notwithstanding the continuous operation of the mechanlsm for positioning the sheets in relation to the reciprocatory feed shelf, such sheets will be intermittently advanced in relation to the members of the printing couple, and the timing of such intermittent advancement will be determined by the space between succeeding plates upon the plate cylinder. This intern mittent feeding is at relatively higher speed than the movement of the sheets by the mechanisms for delivering them to the feed shelf, thus permitting the sheets to be successively delivered to the feed shelf without regard to u" lno the spacing of succeeding sheets in relation to each other as required by the number and rrangement of plates upon the plate cylin- In order to ensure the proper engagement of a sheet between the members of the printing oo uple, the forward edge of the sheet must project beyond the forward edge of the reciprocatory feed shelf, thus necessitating the support of this edge of the paper, and its engagement with the front gauge stops adjacent the supporting means for this front edge. It is also essential to provide means whereby the sheet will be caused, during its advancement by the reciprocatory feed shelf, to have movement in relation to the mechanism for delivering such sheets to said shelf.

The machine of the invention, therefore, not only involves the use of what is known as a feeder mechanism by which the sheets are picked up from a stack one at a time andY delivered in relation to a. conveyor mechanism, but an arrangement of this conveyor mechanism in relation to a reciprocatory feed shelf by which the delivery of the sheets to the shelf may be in a substantially uninterrupted closely adjacent, or even overlapping series of sheets, which sheets after being adjusted by means of front and side gauges will be successively fed, not only toward the printing couple, but away from the mechanisms delivering the sheets to the shelf.

The use of a mechanism for automatically feeding sheets in relation to a printing couple, involves a modification of the sheet delivery mechanism, as compared with the construction used with hand fed machines, in order to permit free access to the automatic feeder mechanism particularly adjacent the picker mechanism and the platform carrying the stack of sheets to be fed to the printing couple.

The invention consists primarily in a rotary printing machine, embodying therein the combination with a printing couple including a plate cylinder adapted to receive an intaglio, engraved or undersurface printing plate, and an impression cylinder or D- roll co-operating therewith, of a sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein a fixed support for the forward edge of a sheet adjacent said printing couple front gauge stops cooperating with said fixed support to accurately position said sheet in relation to said couple, a reciprocatory support for the sheet, pusher members carried by and'movable with said reciprocatory support, means adapted to intermittently actuate said front gauge stops, said pusher members and said reciprocatory support to advance a sheet into frictional engagement with the members of said printing couple, and mechanisms adapted to remove one sheet at a time from a stack and deposit it upon and in operative relation to said fixed support, said reciprocatory support7 said front gauge stops and said pusher members; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 isa side view of the printing couple,

and of the automatically acting mechanisms` for delivering sheets thereto of a rotary printing machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of the portion of the mechanism adjacent the printing couple;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the portion of the sheet delivery mechanism positioned above the feed shelf;

Fig. 5 is a side view thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a section of the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the plate cylinder 10 is of a type to receive three plates. The detailed construction of this cylinder is immaterial to the invention, it being merely necessary that the plates 11, 12 and 13 upon this cylinder be spaced apart as indicated at 14, 15 and 16 for the purpose of affording an interval following the wiping and polishing of each plate during which the wiping and polishing cloths may be actuated to present a short length of fresh surface to the succeeding plate to be wiped and polished. The plates 11, 12 and 13 are ordinary engraved steel plates.

(lo-operating with the cylinder l0 is an impression cylinder or D-roll 17 of the usual construction.

A gripper mechanism 18 is for removing the printed sheet from each plate. This mechanism is also old and well-known although as will more fully appear hereinafter, it is highly desirable, in order to admit free access to the automatic sheet delivery mechanism of the machine, to specially construct the delivery mechanism of which the member 18 is a part.

Located closely adjacent the meeting line of the cylinders 10 and 17 is a plate 19, the forward edge of which is notched at 20 for receiving the downturned ends 21 of front gauge stops 22 carried by a rock shaft 23, provided with a crank arm 24 having a stud thereon engaged by the forked arm of a lever 25. The front gauge stops 22 may be adjusted circumferentially of the shaft 23 by means of a split collar 22a, forming a part of said stops, and secured to the shaft 23 by the action of a clamp screw 22?) and a set screw 220 acting upon said clamp screw to avoid loosening thereof from vibrations in and about the machine. The lever 25 receives a timely reciprocation from a cam 26 upon the sha-ft of the cylinder 10,- having three rises 27, 28 and 29 so positioned with relation to the printing plates upon said cylinder as to ensure the raising of the front gauge stops as each plate approaches the impression cylinder or D-roll 17. The number of rises upon the cam 26 corresponds with the number of plates uponjthe cylinder 10 and will vary with cylinders designed to receive a different number of lates.

Mounted upon anti-friction wheels 30 carried by the main frame of the machine, is a reciprocatory feed shelf 31, the edge of which presented toward the printing couple 10 and 17, is provided with a thin metal plate 32 projecting beyond the shelf proper upon a plane which will permit it to pass over the plate 19. The reciprocatory feed shelf 31 is actuated by means of a rocking lever 33, one arm of which is connected by a link 34 with the feed shelf 31 and the other arm of which is connected by a link 35 with a rocking lever 36 acted upon by a cam 37, having three rises 38, 39 and 40 so positioned as to impart a short reciprocatory movement to the shelf 31 immediately following the lifting of the front gauge stops 22 by the cam 26. Carried by the shelf 31 are brackets 41 in which is mounted a rock shaft 42 carrying aplurality of gripper or pusher fingers 43.

The shaft 42 is acted upon by a torsionl spring 44 having a normal tendency to press the fingers 43 into engagement with the plate 32 forming a part of the table 31. Said brackets 41 have movement with the table 31 so as to cause the fingers 43, when the sheet is properly positioned in relation thereto, to the feed shelf 31 and to the front gauge stops 22, to advance the forward edge of the sheet beyond the plate 19and into p0- sition between the cylinders 10 and 17 so as t be frictionally engaged between said cylinders as the next printing plate, as 11, reaches its operative relation to the impression cylinder or D-roll 17.

Carried by the shaft 42 is a crank arm 45 carrying an anti-friction roller 46 engageable with a fixed cam 47 positioned upon the frame of the machine adjacent the printing couple, so as to disengage the fingers 43 from the sheet, substantially simultaneously with` the frictional engagement of the sheet between the cylinders 10 and 17. This oscillation of the shaft 42 by the cam 47 is against the tension of the spring 44 so that it is necessary to provide means yfor maintaining the gripper or pusher fingers 43 in their elevatedposition, away from the shelf 31, duringv the feeding movement of the sheet by the printing couple and during the return reciprocation of the shelf. For this purpose, I provide the shaft 42 with a 'stop arm 48 cooperating with which is a spring pressed dog 49 carried by one of the brackets 41, which dog has a normal tendency to engage the,

stop arm 48. Carried by one side frame of l the machine is a kick-off member 50 piv-` otally mounted at 51. This kick-olf member v has a heel 52 engageable with a stop stud 53a yupon said side frame. Pivotally connected relation to the dog 49. One end of the spring i 56 is connected with the link 53 and the other end thereof is connected with the pivotal support for the kick-off member 50.

Each of the gripper or pusher ngers 43 is loosely mounted upon the rock shaft 4 2 and has movement imparted thereto through a spring 57, seated in a cup formed in the member by which the finger 43 is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 42 and bearing against a tongue 58 carried by a bracket 59 adjustably mounted upon said shaft 42. In this manner, the fingers 43 are yieldably thrust into engagement with the feed shelf 31 and the parts may be adjusted to develop the desired frictional engagement between said fingers and the sheet of paper upon sai shelf. The fingers 43 are preferably covered with rubber tubing in order to ensure the de -sired gripping action thereof upon the paper.

The front gauge stops 22 are adjustably mounted upon the rock shaft 23 for the purpose of permitting adjustment of these stops circumferentially of the shaft 23 and with relation to the plate 19, to accord with the pivotal movement of said shaft and to compensate for wear of parts. The mechanisms heretofore described are intermittently operative in order to permit the proper positioning of the sheet preparatory to its delivery to the members of the printing couple'and the delivery of a sheet to said couple as each plate approaches the printing position.

Co-operating with the various mechanisms is an automatically acting side gauge mecha-- nism 60, the function of which is to properly position a sheet laterally of the shelf 31.

Such side gauge mechanisms are well known in various types of automatic feeders and a detailed descriptionv thereof is therefore unnecessary. It is suiicient to state that this side gauge is operated with each reciprocalos tion of the feed shelf to impart any slight lateral movement to the sheet, necessary to Secure lateral register.

At 61 is shown a portion of an automatically operating sheet delivery mechanism having a picker mechanism not shown. This picker mechanism is old and well known, as is the automatic feeding mechanism 61r in its entirety. So far as my present invention is concerned, the detailed construction of the mechanism 61 is immaterial to the invention as there are many well known mechanisms available for the purpose for which this mechanism is used, to wit the removal of one sheet at a time from the top of a stackl and its advancement in relation to other mechanisms for conveying it away from the picker mechanism.

In the form of the invention shown, sheets delivered by the mechanism 61 are delivered between feed rollers 62 and 63. The lower of these rollers 63 has passing about same, a plurality of endless tapes 64, the up'per reach of which tapes runs toward the printing lcouple 10-17 and over the feed shelf 31.

Carried by a cross bar 65, extending below the feed shelf 31 are bearing fittings 66 projecting through openings in the feed shelf and having mounted therein rollers 67 for the tapes 64. The feed shelf 31 has movement in relation to said rollers 67 to permit the sheets of paper to be delivered to the feed shelf in rapid succession without requiring any synchronization of the picker mechanism of the automatic feeder 61 with the mechanisms associated with the feed shelf and the printing couple for completing the delivery of the sheets. The tapes 64 pass about two guide rollers 68 and 69 intermediate the rollers 63 and 67, which rollers 68 and 69 are positioned above the feed shelf 31 in parallel horizontal planes so asvto interrupt the continuity of the conveying surface afforded by the tapes 64 and still have these tapes operate continuously. From the guide roller 67 the tapes 64 have a return reach guided by rollers 70, 71 and 72. Intermediate the guide rollers 71 and 72, a loop is formed in the tapes a weight 73 being suspended by each loop to take up slack in the tapes.

The roller 67 is located adjacent the plate 19, the fingers 43 and the side gauge mechanism 60 so'that the traction of the tapes 64 upon each sheet of paper. advances it until the forward edge thereof is in engagement with the front gauge stops 22, the sheet passing below the gripper fingers 43 and adjacent the side gauge mechanism 60. The tapes 64, therefore, deliver each sheet of paper into position where it is acted upon by said front gauge stops and said side gauge mechanism and is in operative relation to said gripper fingers. Immediately that this condition is established, the tapes 64 cease to be operative upon the sheet so positioned, but continue to operate upon the succeeding sheet or sheets since these tapes are continuously actuated.

As each sheet engages the front gauge stops, its movement by the tapes 64 ceases, the sheet remaining stationary momentarily prior to the actuation of the gripper fingers 43 and of the front gauge stops 22 and during the actuation of the side gauge mechanism 60.

The reach of the tapes between the rollers '67 and 69 is parallel with the top of the feed shelf 31, this reach being positioned between the sheet and the feed shelf. v I

Passing from the collecting cylinder 18 and about a roller 74 are delivery tapes 7 5.' A plurality of tapes 76 pass about the rollers 74-7 7. In addition to the tapes 76 there is a short tape 78 passing about the roller 74 and a roller 79 intermediate the rollers 74 and 77. The roller 79 also serves as a support for the tapes 76.

Mounted with its axis in substantial alinement with the tape 78, is a driven roller 80 along which the edge of the paper is moved by the tapes 7 6.

A stripper member 81 -is used to raise the sheets slightly from the tapes 76, this stripper member being mounted upon the frame of the delivery mechanism.

Mounted upon parallel bars 82 and 83 and adjustable along said bars, is a stop plate 84 projecting over and closely adjacent the upper reach of the tapes 76 so that movement of a sheet by said tapes will be arrested when the forward edge of the sheet engages this plate. A set screw 85 is used to lock this plate in any adjusted position. Parallel with and adjacent the rollers 80 is a roller 86 about which and a roller 87 tapes 88 pass downwardly from the plane of the tapes 76 at an angle which will permit convenient inspection of sheets upon said tapes. Mounted upon a shaft 89 positioned above the roller 80, is a transfer member 90 including a picker member 91 for engagement with a portion of the sheet resting upon the roller 8O and moving the sheet across this roller and upon the tapes 88. The shaft 89 is rotated by means of entrained gears 92, one of which is driven by means of the bevelled gears 93 from the roller 7 7.

The roller 74 is driven in any desired manner as by means of the belt and pulley mechanism 94. Power from the roller 74 is transmitted through the shaft 95 and the co-operating bevelled gear 96 and 97 by which respectively the shaft 95 is geared to the roller 74 and to the shaft 77 The tapes 76 and 88 in their entirety are positioned at one side of the mechanism 61 sg as to permit free access to this mechanism.

The operation of the herein described mechanism is substantially as follows In the machine shown in the drawings, the number of revolutions of the impression cylinder or D-roll 17 as compared with that of the plate cylinder 10, is as 3 to 1, the ratio between these two cylinders being determined by the number of plates carried by the cylinder 10, the impression cylinder or D-roll having one revolution for each plate.

In the operation of the machine of the invention, it is essential that three sheets be delivered to the printing couple during each rotation of the plate cylinder 10, one sheet bemaking. of impressions. This interval willvary accordin tothe number of plates upon the cylinder, ut there will always'be such an interval, and consequentl there must be an intermittent delivery of eets to the cylinders 10 and 17, the dwell'between the making of impressions upon succeeding sheets being determined by the length of such intervals.

When power is applied to the machine, the mechanism 61 removes the top sheet from a stack, delivering it between the rollers 62 and 63 and to the tapes 64 passing about the roller 63. Said rollers and said tapes convey this sheet away from the mechanism 61 and toward the printing .couple 10-17. The sheet after leaving the rollers 62 and 63 continues to have movement with the tapes 64 until the upper reach of said tapes passes about the roller 68, whereupon the forward end of the sheet falls upon the portion of the tapes between the rollers 69 and 67 or upon that portion of the reach of the tapes closely adjacent the feed shelf 31. The tapes 64 continue to impart movement to each sheet until the forward edge thereof abuts against the front gauge stopls 22 whereupon the sheet comes to rest and t e tapes have slippage in relation thereto.

In passing into engagement with the front gauge stops 22, the sheet passes the side gauge mechanism and between the resser fingers 43 and the feed shelf 31. urin the movement of the sheet across the fee shelf after the forward edge thereof leaves the tapes at the roller 67, said shelf will be at rest although with the construction shown, the sheet will be fed even though the feed shelf may be having movement either toward or from the printing cou le during this period. Exactitude in the tlming of the movement of the feed shelf asv compared with the movement of the sheet by*J the tapes 64, is unnecessary, although movement of said shelf toward the printing couple must be accurately timed in relation to the actuation of the front gauge stops. In fact, the feed shelf 31 should reach the limit of its movement away from the printing couple prior to the engagement of the forward edge of the sheet with the front gauge stops.

As one sheet engages the front gauge stops 22, the succeeding sheet is about to pass from the uppermost reach of the tapes 64 adjacent the guide roller 68, to the top of the reach 0f said tapes between the rollers 69 and 67 and upon the feed shelf. In fact, the forward edge portion of one sheet may pass upon and overlap the portion adjacent the rear edge of the preceding sheet upon the tapes 64 between the rollers 69 and 67. The third sheet at the sion cylinder or time of the positioning of the second sheet as above described will be entering upon the topmost reach of the tapes, but in lation to the succeeding sheet. T e above conditions are in a printing machine in which aced rethe plate cylinder 10 is adapted to receive Y three plates, and is a continuing condition in' the feeding of the sheets, one sheet being in position -to be fed to the printing couple by the reciprocation of the feed shelf 31, a second sheet being about to be delivered to the ta es in the reach adjacent said shelf and a. thlrd sheet being advanced by the uppermost reach of the tapes from the automatic feeding mechanism 61.l When this condition is-established, the impression cylinder or D-roll the plate cylinder 10, it being necessary upon the inititation of a run to separate said cylinder to prevent offsetting upon the blanket of the impression cylinder or D-roll.

As late' 11, as shown in the drawings, approac es engaging)rela-tion with the impres- -roll, the .riser 27 of the cam 26 actuates the lever 25 and therethrou h rocks the shaft 23 in a manner to raise te front gauge stops 22 above the plate 19 and out of engaging relation with the front edge of a sheet to be printed. It will be noted that the forward edge ofthe sheet extends beyond the forward edge of@ the feed shelf' and is supported by the plate'l19.

Substantially simultaneously with the rais- Prior to the actuation of the gripper fingers' 43 in the manner above described, theside gauge mechanism 60 is actuated so as to correct an loss of register of the sheet laterally of the eed shelf.

' Immediately following theengagement of thegripper fingers 43 with the sheet upon the feed shelf 31, the riser 38 upon the cam 37l actuates the rocking lever 36, which through the link 35, the rocking lever 33 and the link 34 moves the shelf 31 towards the printing couple which through the engagement of the lingers 43 with the sheet, causes movement of the sheet therewith until theforward edge of the sheet is positioned between the mem- -bers of the printing couple. This occurs substantially simultaneously with the forward edge of the plate 11 coming into engagement with the blanket upon the impression cylinder or D-roll 17. It will be noted that during this movement of the feed shelf 31, the thin metal plate 3 2 passes over the plate 1 9 upon 'ment of each sheet of paper from the time l that it is delivered by the picker mechanism of the automatic feeder 61 until the forward edge of each sheet engages the front gauge stops 22 whereupon this sheet will come to rest momentarily, succeedingr sheets havin-g continuous feeding movement notwithstanding this stoppage of a preceding sheet.

The delivery of the sheet to the members of the printing couple and its feeding movement by said couple being at a greater speed than its movement by the tap-es 64, the succeeding sheet is advanced by the tapes, the feed shelf 31 receives a rapid return reciprocatory movement, and the front gauge stops are restored to their operative position in relation to the late 19 before the forward edge of the succeeding sheet is moved by the tapes 64 along and beyond the feed shelf onto the plate 19 into engagement with said stops.

The difference in speed between the movement of the sheets by the tapes 64 and by the feed shelf and the members of the printing couple, permits that dwell of the sheet upon the feed shelf necessary to a proper positioning of the sheet in relation to the printing plate and at the same time secures the feeding of the sheets to the printing couple in accurate spaced relation to each other notwithstanding any lack of, or irregular, spacing of the sheets in relation to each other while upon the tape 64 or the feed shelf 31.

Substantially simultaneously with the completion of the reciprocation of the feed shelf 31 toward and the engagement of the sheet by the members of the printing couple, the roller 46, carried by the crank arm 45, engages the fixed cam 47 and rocks the shaft 42 against the tension of its sprin 44 in a manner to disengage the gripper ngers 43 from the sheet upon the shelf 31. With this movement of the shaft, the stop arm 48 is raised and the spring dog 49 engages with the arm to prevent a return oscillation of the shaft 42 during the return reciprocating of the feed shelf 31.

'i While one sheet is being withdrawn from the feed shelf 31 by the members of the printing couple, the succeeding sheetis being advanced at lower speed by the tape 64 toward the front gauge stops and the third sheet is being advanced bythe upper reach of the tapes 64 toward the feed shelf. During the movement of the sheetby the printing cou- Vple, the front gauge stops-remain elevated and the ripper fingers .43 also remain ele vated. lso during this movement of the sheet, the shelf 31 receives its return reciprocation. Immediately that the rear edge of the sheet being advanced'by the printing couple passes from the plate 19, thel front gauge stops are again positioned across the forward edge of said late and immediately thereafter the su'cceel ing sheet engages these stops and is accurately ositioned in a manner above described by t e stops and the side gauge mechanisms 60. Prior to the engagement of this succeeding sheet with the front gauge stops 22, the picker mechanism of the automatic feeding mechanism 61 will deliver another sheet to the rollers 62 and 63 and the tapes 64. At all timesduring the operation of the machine, just prior to the reciprocation of the feed shelf 31, there will be three sheets in the following positions One in engaging relation with the front gauge stops and resting upon reciprocatory feed shelf and the portion of the tape 64 closely adjacent same and engaged by the pusher fingers` 43, the second sheet having movement with the tape 64 preparatory to its delivery to the feed shelf 31, and the third sheet being advanced by the feed roller 62 and 63 and the tape 64. The dwell of the sheet in engagement with the front gauge stops may result in the close spacing or even the overlapping of succeeding sheets as they are delivered to the feed shelf, although as described, there will be a proper spacing of these sheets as delivered by the feed shelf to the members of the printing couple.

In this manner, a continuous succession of sheets are being advanced toward the printing couple and accurately positioned so as to secure proper register of the impression or a proper locating of the impression upon the sheet, and this is accomplished solely by the mechanisms of the machine. The accuracy and the speed with which the sheets may be delivered to the printing couple not only assures the operation of the machine at the maximum speed permissible, but wastage from improper feeding of the sheets is reduced to a minimum. The daily output of a machine may be very much increased by the use of a feeding mechanism such as herein described.

Upon the completion of an impression, the printed sheet remains upon the plate until it is stripped therefrom by the collecting cylinder 18 of the delivery mechanism. With the machine of the invention, it is preferable to have a collecting shelf at one side of the feeding mechanism, and it is for this reason that the collecting or delivery mechanism heretofore described is used. With this mechanism, the printed sheets are conveyed by the tapes 7 5-7 6 until the forward edge of a sheet engages the stop plate 84 and one edge of the sheet is resting upon the roller 80 after *at an angle permitting convenient inspection of the work prior to delivery to the collectt is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, in which the invention is shown as applied t o a three-plate printing press. The construction necessarily may be modified in adapting it to different constructions of printing machines.

I believe it is broadly new, however, to provide in a printing machine of the type using an intaglio, engraved or undersurface plate, a mechanism in which the sheets are fed in relation to the printing couple by automatically. acting mechanisms involving the delivery of such sheets to a reciprocatory feed shelf and the accurate positioning of these sheets to secure proper register, and I intend to claim such broadly.

Having described the invention what 1 claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

1. A rotary printing machine, embodying therein the combination with a printing couple including a plate cylinder adapted to receive an intaglio, engraved or undersurface printing plate, and an impression cylinder or D-roll cooperating therewith, of a sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein a fixed support for the forward edge of a sheet adjacent said printing couple front guage stops co-operating with said fixed support to accurately position said sheet in relation to said couple a reciprocatory support for the sheet, pusher members carried by and movable with said reciprocatory support, means adapted to intermittently actuate said front gauge stops, said pusher members and said reciprocatory support to advance a sheet into frictional engagement with the members of said printing couple, and mechanisms adapted to remove one sheet at a time from a stack and deposit it upon and in operative relation to said fixed support, said reciprocatory support, said front gauge stops and said pusher members.

2. A rotary printing machine embodying therein the combination with a printing couple including a plate cylinder adapted to receive an intaglio, engraved or undersurface printing plate, and an impression cylinder or D-roll co-operating therewith, of a sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein a fixed support for the forward edge of a sheet adjacent said printing couple, front gauge stops co-operatingwith said fixed support to accurately position said sheet in relation to said couple, a reciprocatory support for the sheet, pusher members carried by and movable with said reciprocatory support, means adapted to intermittently actuate said front gauge stops, said pusher members and said reciprocating support to advance a sheet into frictional engagement with the members 'my' of. said printing couple, tapes having one reach thereof above and spaced from said reciprocatory support, and a second reach thereof closely adjacent said reciprocatory support, and means adapted to remove one sheet at a time from a stack and deliver it to said tapes.

3. A rotary printing machine, embodying therein the combination with a printing couple including a plate cylinder adapted to receive an intaglio, engraved or undersurface printing plate, and an impression cylinder or D-roll co-operating therewith, of a sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein a reciprocatory feed shelf, oscillatory pusher fingers carried thereby, means adapted alternatively to engage and disengage said fingers from a sheet upon said shelf, front gauge stops adapted to accurately locate a' sheet upon said shelf, a side gauge mechanism operative upon a sheet upon said shelf adjacent said pusher fingers, tapes having one reach thereof above and spaced from said shelf and a second reach thereof closely ad-y jacent and parallel with said shelf, said'last named reach extending adjacent said pusher fingers and said side gauge mechanism, and means adapted to remove one sheet at a .time from a stack and deliver it to said tapes.

4. A rotary printing machine, embodying therein the combination with a printing couple including a plate cylinder adapted to receive an intaglio, engraved or undersurface printing plate, and an impression cylinder or D-roll co-operating therewith of a sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein a plate adjacent the printing line of said printing couple, front gauge stops co-operating with said plate, a 'reciprocatory feed shelf ,l oscillatory pusher fingers carried thereby, means adapted alternatively to engage and disengage said fingers from a sheet upon said shelf, a conveyor mechanism adapted to deliver sheets successively against said front gauge stops, below said pusher fingers and upon said feed shelf, and an automatically acting mechanism adapted to de-l liver one sheet at a time from a stack to said conveyor mechanism.

5. A rotary printing machine embodying therein the combination with a printing cou-4 ple including a plate cylinder adapted to receive a plurality vbf intaglio, engraved or undersurface printing plates, spaced from each other about said cylinder, and an impression cylinder or D-roll co-operatin therewith, of a sheet feeding mechanism em odying therein a fixed support for the forward edge of a sheet adjacent said printing couple, front gauge stops co-operating with said fixed support to accurately position said sheet in relation to said couple, a reciprocatory support for the sheet, pusher members carried by and movable with said reciprocatory support, means adapted to actuate said front gauge stops, said pusher members and said reciprocatory support to advance a sheet into frictional engagement with the members of said printing couple as each plate thereon is about to engage said impression cylinder orD-roll and mechanisms adapted to remove one sheet at a time from a stack and deposit it upon and in operative relation to said fixed support, said reciprocatory support, said front gauge stops and said pusher members.

6. A rotary printing machine ern-bodying therein the combination with a printing couple including a plate cylinder adapted to receive a plurality of intaglio, engraved or undersurface printing plates, spaced Efrom each other about said cylinder and an impression cylinder or D-roll co-operating therewith of a sheet feeding mechanism embodyin therein a xed support for the f orward ec ge of a sheet adjacent said printing couple, front gauge stops co-operating with said fixed supportto accurately position said sheet in relation to` said couple, a reciprocatory support for the sheet, pusher members carried by and movable with said reciprocatory support, means adapted to actuate said mechanisms to advance a sheet into fric-- tional engagement with the members of said printing couple as each plate thereon is about to engage said impression cylinder or D-roll, tapes having one reach thereof above and spaced from said reciprocatory support and a second reach thereof` closely adjacent said reciprocatory support and means adapted to remove one sheet at a time from a stack and deliver it to said tapes.

7. A rotary printing machine embodying therein in combination with a printing couple including a plate cylinder adapted to receive a plurality of intaglio, engraved or undersurface printing plates, spaced from each other about said c linder and an impression cylinder or -roll co-operating therewith of a sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein a reciprocatory feed shelf,y

oscillatory pusher fingers, carried thereby, means adapted alternatively to engage and disengage said fingers from a sheet upon said said shelf, front gauge stops adapted to ac- 'curately locate a sheet upon said shelf, a side gauge mechanism operative upon a sheet upon said shelf and adjacent said pusher fingers, means adapted to actuate said feed shelf, said pusher fingers, said front gauge stop and said side gauge mechanism as each plate upon said plate cylinder is about to engage said impression cylinder or D-roll, tapes having one reach thereof above and spaced from said shelf and a second reach thereof Iclosely adjacent and parallel with said shelf,

or D-roll co-operating therewith, of a sheet feeding mechanism embodyin therein a reciprocatory feed shelf, oscil atory pusher fingers carried thereby, springs tending to normally engage said fingers with said shelf, a stop arm operatively connected with said fingers, a pawl engageable by said stop arm, a kick-0E member pivotally mounted in enga-geable relation with said pawl, means having a normal tendency to disengage said kick! ofi'. member from said pawl, a lever mounted adjacent said cylinder, a cam rotatable with said impression cylinder or D-roll and operative upon said lever, front gauge stops adapted to accurately locate a sheet upon said shelf adjacent said pusher fingers, tapes havin one reach thereof above and spaced rom said shelf and a second reach thereof closely adjacent and parallel with said shelf, said last named reach extending adjacent said pusher fingers and said side gauge mechanism, and means adapted to remove one sheet at a time from a stack and deliver it to said tapes.

9. A rotary printing machine, embodying therein the combination with a printing couple including a plate cylinder adapted to receive an intaglio, engraved or undersurface printing plate, and an impression cylinder or D-roll co-operating therewith, of a sheet feedingmechanism embodying therein a reciprocatory feed shelf, a rock shaft, members adjustably secured thereto, a pusher finger idly mounted upon said shaft adjacent said member, a spring positioned between said member and said finger whereby with the movement of the said shaft, said finger will be yieldably engaged with said shaft, a spring operative upon said shaft, co-operating members carried by said shaft and said shelf whereby said fingers may be held away from said shelf, means making said members inoperative prior to each oscillation of said shelf, means operative upon the end of movement of said shelf toward said printing couple acting to move said fingers away from said shelf, front gauge stops adapted to accurately locate a sheet upon said shelf, a side gauge mechanism operative upon a sheet upon said shelf adjacent said pusher fingers, tapes having one reach thereof above and spaced from said shelf and a second reach thereof closely adjacent and parallel with said shelf, said last named reach extending adjacent sai-d pusher fingers and said side gauge mechanism, and means adapted to remove one sheet at a time from a stack and deliver it to said tapes. u

10. A rotary printing machine, embodying therein the combination with a printing couple including a plate cylinder adapted to receive an intaglio, engraved or undersurface printing plate, and an impression cylinder or D-roll co-operating therewith, of a sheet feeding Inechanism embodying therein a reciprocatory feed shelf, oscillatory pusher fingers carried thereby, means adapted alternatively to engage and disengage said fingers from a sheet upon said shelf, front gauge stops adapted to accurately locate a sheet upon said shelf, a side gauge mechanism operative upon a sheet upon said shelf adjacent said pusher fingers, tapes having one reach thereof above and spaced from said shelf and a second reach thereof closely adjacent and parallel with said shelf, said last named reach extending adjacent said pusher fingers and said side gauge mechanism, means imparting reciprocatory movement to said feed shelf at a speed greater than the movement of said tapes, means imparting continuous travel to said tapes, and means adapted to remove one sheet at a time from a stack and deliver it to said tapes.

11. A rotary printing machine, embodying therein the combinatlon with a printing couple including a plate cylinder adapted to receive a plurality of intaglio, engraved or undersurface printing plates, and an impression cylinder or D-roll co-operating therewith, of a sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein a reciprocatory feed shelf, oscillatory pusher fingers carried thereby, means adapted alternatively to engage and disengage said fingers from a sheet upon said shelf, front gauge stops adapted to accurately locate a sheet upon said shelf, a side gauge mechanism operative upon a sheet upon said shelf adjacent said pusher fingers, tapes having one reach thereof above and spaced from said shelf and a second reach thereof closely adjacent and parallel with said shelf, said last named reach extending adjacent said pusher fingers and said side gauge mechanism, means imparting reciprocatory movement to said feed shelf with a speed greater than the travel of said tapes, as each plate upon said plate cylinder is about to engage said impression cylinder or D-roll, means imparting continuous travel to said tapes, and means adapted to remove one sheet at a time from a stack and deliver it to said tapes.

12. A rotary printing machine, embodying therein the combination with a printing couple including a plate cylinder adapted to receive an intaglio, engraved or undersurface printing plate, and animpression cylinder or D-roll co-operating therewith, of a sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein a reciprocatory feed shelf, oscillatory pusher fingers carried thereby, means adapted alternatively to engage and disengage said fingers from a sheet upon said shelf, front gauge stops adapted to accurately locate a sheet upon said shelf, a rock shaft carrying said front gauge stops, a crank arm carried thereby, a forked lever engaging said crank arm, a cam rotatable with said plate cylinder and operative upon said forked arm, means whereby said front gauge stops may be adjusted circumferentially of said rock shaft, a side gauge mechanism operative upon a sheet upon said shelf, adjacent said pusher fingers, tapes having one reach thereof above and spaced from said shelf and a second reach thereof closely adjacent and parallel with said shelf, said last named reach extending adjacent said pusher fingers and said side gauge mechanism, and means adapted to remove one sheet at a time from a stack and deliver it to said tapes.

13. A rotary printing machine, embodying therein the combination with a printing couple including a plate cylinder adapted to receive a plurality of intaglio, engraved or undersurface printing plates, and an impression cylinder or D-roll co-operating therewith, of a sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein a reciprocatory feed shelf, oscillatory pusher fingers carried thereby, means adapted alternatively to engage and disengage said fingers from a sheet upon said shelf, front gauge stops adapted to accurately locate a sheet upon said shelf, a rock shaft carrying said front gauge stops, a crank arm carried thereby, a forked lever engaging said crank arm, a cam having a plurality of risers, means whereby said front gauge'stops may be adjusted circumferentially of said rock shaft, a side gauge mechanism operative upon a sheet upon said shelf adjacent said pusher fingers, tapes having one reach thereof above and spaced from said shelf and a second reach thereof closely adjacent and parallel with said shelf, said last named reach extending adjacent said pusher fingers and said side gauge mechanism, and means adapted to remove one sheet at a time from a stack and deliver it to said tapes.

14. A rotary printing machine, embodying therein the combination with a printing couple including a plate cylinder adapted to receive a plurality of intaglio, engraved or undersurface printing plates, a continuously rotating impression cylinder or D-roll cooperating therewith, of a sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein a reciprocatory feed shelf, oscillatory pusher fingers carried thereby, means adapted to alternately engage and disengage said lingers from a sheet upon said shelf, front gauge stopsadapted to accurately locate a sheet upon said shelf, a rock shaft carrying said front gauge Stops, a crank arm carried thereby, a forked lever engaging Said crank arm, a cam having a plurality of risers, means whereby said front gauge stops ma be adjusted circumferentially of said roc shaft, a side gauge mechanism operative upon a sheet upon said shelf adjacent said 6 pusher fingers, tapes having one reach thereof above and spaced from said shelf and a second reach thereof closely adjacent and parallel with said shelf, said last named reach extending adjacent said pusher ngers and said side m, gauge mechanism, and means adapted to remove one sheet at a time from a stack and deliver it to said tapes.

in Witness whereof have hereunto axed my signature, this 14th day of May, 1930.

15 FRANK C. MARQUARDT 

